Constructional works

ABSTRACT

EARTH REINFORCEMENT CONSTRUCTED BY ASSEMBLING A MASS OF PULVERULENT MATERIAL FRICTIONALLY BOUNDED BY ELONGATED FRICTIONAL ELEMENTS WHICH EXTENDS INCLUDE A FLEXIBLE CABLE PARTICLES. THE FRICTIONAL ELEMENTS INCLUDE A FLEXIBLE CABLE OR WIRE HAVING LARGE RADIAL PROJECTIONS SUCH AS BALLS SECURED ON THE CABLE AT REGULAR INTERVALS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CABLE. THE BOUNDARY OF THE MASS OF PARTICLES IS CONFINED BY A WALL BUILT OF LAYERS OF THE FRICTIONAL ELEMENTS LAYED CONTINUOUSLY IN TRAVERSING COURSES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. AT SUITABLE INTERVALS THE ELONGATED FRICTIONAL ELEMENTS EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE WALL INTO THE MASS OF PARTICLES SO THAT THE PARTICLES FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN THE REINFORCING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A STABLE STRUCTURE.

March 16, 1971 c, v D L 3,570,252

CONSTRUCTIONAL WORKS Original Filed March 26. 1964 United States Patent 3,570,252 CO'NSTRUCTIONAL WORKS Henri C. Vidal, 17 Rue Armengaud, 92 Saint-Cloud, France Original application Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,947 now Patent No. 3,421,326, dated Jan. 14, 1969. Divided and this application Sept. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 762,033 Int. Cl. E0211 7/08; E02d 5/00 US. Cl. 61--30 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Earth reinforcement constructed by assembling a mass of pulverulent material frictionally bonded by elongated frictional elements which extends through the mass of particles. The frictional elements include a flexible cable or wire having large radial projections such as balls secured on the cable at regular intervals along the length of the cable. The boundary of the mass of particles is confined by a wall built of layers of the frictional elements layed continously in traversing courses on top of each other. At suitable intervals the elongated frictional elements extend outwardly from the wall into the mass of particles so that the particles fill the space between the reinforcing elements to provide a stable structure.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 354,947, filed Mar. 26, 1964, now Pat. N0. 3,421,326 and entitled Constructional Works.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to constructional works and more particularly to structures for containing and reinforcing masses of granular elements such as earth, sand, stones or similar non-cohesive materials.

It has been customary to construct reinforcing structures, such as foundations, retaining Walls, roads, dikes and dams, with steel, concrete or other structural materials. This type of construction is expensive not only because of the cost of the materials, such as the steels or cement, but also due to the cost of transporting these materials to the construction site.

Recently large earth moving machines have been developed for the construction of roads, dikes and airfield runways. Although a mass of earth is not coherent, it can be contained by conventional reinforcing walls, or by applying a binder such as cement to the earth particles. Constructions of this type are not readily adaptable to changes in adjacent structures, such as sinking of the underlying foundation soil during or after completion of the work.

Another disadvantage of conventional steel reinforced concrete constructional works is that the steel reinforcements cannot be salvaged if the structure is later demolished or replaced. The steel reinforcements are embedded in the concrete and the cost of removing the concrete from the reinforcements would be greater than the value of the steel.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reinforcement structure for non-coherent masses of granular material, such as earth particles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rein forcement structure for non-coherent particular or granular material that makes maximum utilization of materials found at the job site.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reinforcement structure that is readily assembled with equipment normally found at a construction site.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a reinforcement structure which is generally elastic and readily adapts to changes in the contour of the land on which it is supported, such as are caused by settling or other deformation.

Another object is to provide a reinforced structure that can be readily demolished if necessary, and the reinforcements can be easily salvaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are accomplished in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by utilizing a reinforcing element that is in the form of a chain of balls. The reinforcing element has a cable or wire on which relatively large projection-s, such as balls are secured at regular intervals. A retaining wall or cladding is erected with a plurality of layers of the reinforcing elements having the balls arranged in superimposed courses and having the cable or wire extending approximately perpendicular to the outer face of the wall. Earth or other granular material is filled behind the wall in layers, and one or more of the courses of the chain of :balls extends through the mass of earth particles between the layers to serve as internal reinforcements. When the structure is completed, the internal reinforcement portions of the chain of balls prevent lateral slippage of the earth particles and the wall formed by the chains of balls serves to retain the earth particles adjacent the boundary of the earth mass.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a reinforced dam erected in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the constructional work of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the reinforcing element of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a mass of non-coherent earth, the only equilibrium factor is due to the effect of the internal friction of the particles. In a work according to this invention the friction between particles and reinforcements is an additional stability factor which, combined with the friction of the particles with one another, makes it possible to obtain equilibrium-state contours or stable volumes which would be impossible if the reinforcements were not present. Thus, according to this invention, cohesion is obtained by the association of tWo types of elements, particles and reinforcements. In the works according to this invention, cohesion therefore has a very different origin from that which characterises masses consisting of concrete whether reinforced or otherwise, where it is due to the rigid connection created by the setting and hardening of the cement, and also different from cob work constructions where the cohesion is created by the adhesive action of the clay.

In the works according to the invention, the reinforcements make their action felt on a certain zone which sur rounds them, but it will be apparent that even if the re inforcements are extended to the free surface of the work, this action, which generates cohesion, is less effective on the free surface where the pressure of the particles tends to push these out of the mass, so that in most cases it is necessary to provide on the free surface of a work according to the invention a means for retaining the particles which are situated on the surface or in the vicinity of the surface.

This means is constituted by a cladding distinct from the particles and the reinforcements; it will be referred to hereinafter as the skin. This skin does not properly speaking play any part in the stability of the work, being merely intended to contain the particles arranged near the free surfaces of the work. Therefore, it must be capable of resisting the local stresses whilst being capable of flexibility which enables it to adapt itself to possible deformations.

To simplify, the association of particles and reinforcements which is the basic feature of works constructed according to the present invention will be referred to as reinforced earth.

Such works may be of many dilferent kinds and can have all kinds of forms. However, the main field of use for such reinforced earth concerns heavy works, that is to say those whose free surface in relation to the total volume of the work is relatively small. This means that the works according to the invention will be mainly dikes, foundation masses, dams, coffer-dams, tunnels, etc.

The term particle designates any element, the form of which approximates that of a sphere, that is the element has approximately the same dimensions in all directions. The particles used in the works according to this invention are in most cases taken from all kinds of soil encountered in nature. Although the particles referred to do not have any natural cohesion, the term also includes agglomerates of smaller particles joined tightly together to form a larger particle. The grain size of the particles may be as small as powders or sand grains, but may also be as large as gravel or stone size, provided that the particles are not so large that the localized stresses would exceed the strength of the reinforcements or the skins used in the work being constructed.

The term reinforcement refers to elongated elements which are capable of withstanding tensile stresses and which have a sufliciently high coeflicient of friction to provide resistance to displacement of the particles relative to the reinforcements, and also are resistant to corrosion.

The skin or cladding serves to contain the particles along the boundary of the mass of particles being consolidated by the structure of this invention. The skin should have sufficient flexibility to allow slight deformations without fracture.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dam 2 that has been constructed in accordance with this invention is shown schematically in cross section. The surface of the ground 4 slopes upwardly at a low angle in a downstream direction. The dam 2 has a skin or cladding which forms an upstream face or wall 6 extending generally vertically. The lines 8 ex tending rearwardly from the wall 6 represent the reinforcements. The space behind the wall or skin 6' and above the earth surface 4 is filled with particles. The particles are deposited behind the skin 6 in layers 9. After each layer is deposited, one or more reinforcements are placed across the top of the layer and extend from the skin 6 toward the downstream side of the dam 2. Thus, the reinforcements 8 in the dam extend generally horizontally between a plurality of layers of particles spaced vertically through the dam 2.

A portion of the wall, cladding or skin 6 and the reinforcements 8 are shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The reinforcement 8 is preferably made of a pliant or flexible cable or tie 10 on which are secured balls 12 that are formed of concrete or other suitable material. The halls are spaced at intervals along the length of the cable 10 in the manner of a string of beads. The reinforcement illustrated in FIG. 3 is described in my Pat. No. 3,355,894, issued Dec. 5, 1967.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wall, cladding or skin 6 is constructed of a plurality of cladding or skin layers 14 that have the same ball and cable structure as the reinforcement. An indeterminate length of cable is double back on itself a number of times, so that the balls 12 of one cladding or skin layer 14 are positioned between adjacent balls of the next cladding or skin layer. The reinforcements 8 extend outwardly from the wall 6 in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the vertical face 16 of 4 the wall or skin 6. A plurality of reinforcements 8 are also arranged in the same manner transversely of the darn 2 to provide a continuous wall or cladding structure.

In certain of the layers 14, the reinforcements 8 project rearwardly from the exposed face 16 and from the wall or skin 6 into the mass of particles, which are indicated schematically at 18 in FIG. 2. As shown by the top layer of reinforcement in FIG. 2, the end of the reinforcement 8 is joined to the wall or skin 6 entirely by frictional engagement between the balls 12 of adjacent reinforcement portions. Of course, the reinforcement may extend continuously from one layer 14 to another.

The structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is constructed by first arranging the skin layers 14 in the skin or wall 6 across the width of the structure until the height of the layer of first reinforcements 8 is reached. The earth or other particulate material is deposited behind the wall or skin 6 until the level of the upper anchoring plane is reached. The anchoring plane refers to the level at which the reinforcements 8 are arranged in the mass of particles. This earth is normally taken from the ground around the foundation. The reinforcements 8 are then laid out on the surface of the earth particles 18. The layers 14 of the wall or skin 6 are laid on top of each other across the width of the structure until the next anchoring plane is reached. The process is then repeated for each anchoring plane until the dam 2 has been built up to the height desired. The particles 18 are compacted in the layers by the weight of the bulldozer that moves the earth into position, or compacting equipment such as rammers may be used.

The earth may also be put into position either hydraulically with suction dredges, which are very economical for earth moving machines, or by simply discharging the earth from trucks or by means of mechanical shovels or drag lines. If the particulate material is sand, it can be transported by means of pneumatic pipe systems at high speed.

I claim:

1. constructional work comprising: a mass of pulverulent, discrete particles, said particles being normally capable of lateral slippage relative to one another, a plurality of pliant thin reinforcing elements embedded in said mass, said elements being elongated and being spaced apart from each other, said mass having spaced opposite terminal surfaces, said elements each extending from adjacent one of said terminal surfaces to the other of said terminal surfaces, and wall means along one of said terminal surfaces for retaining said particles in said mass, said wall means including wall layers each of which wall layers comprises a plurality of ball elements secured at spaced intervals to an elongated flexible element, said flexible element being thin relative to said ball elements, said ball elements of one layer projecting into the space between adjacent ball elements of an adjacent wall layer to frictionally lock said flexible elements in position, said reinforcing elements having end portions extending into said wall means in engaging relation thereto whereby the friction between the particles and the reinforcing elements consolidates the mass between the opposite terminal surfaces and the wall means contains the particles along said terminal surface.

2. The constructional work according to claim 1 wherein said flexible elements and said reinforcing elements are integral.

3. The constructional work according to claim 1 wherein some of said wall layers include said reinforcing ele ments.

4. The constructional work according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing elements comprise an elongated cable and a plurality of ball elements secured on said cable at intervals spaced longitudinally of said cable, said cable being thin relative to the thickness of said ball elements.

5. The constructional work according to claim 4 wherein said flexible elements and said reinforcing elements are substantially the same in shape and size.

6. Constructional work comprising a mass of first elements, second elements embedded in said mass, the elements being maintained relative to each other by the effect of friction between elements which are in contact with no binder therebetween, the first elements being particles, and the second elements being pliant thin elongate reinforcements capable of sustaining tension without permanently elongating and without fracture, portions of said mass defining layers comprising a multiplicity of said particles respectively in direct frictional engagement with said reinforcements, intermediate portions of said mass comprising a multiplicity of still other particles being interposed in a continuous and uninterrupted mass between and contiguous with said particle layers, and cladding dis posed on an outer surface of said mass for containing the particles, the cladding comprising cladding elements consisting of a pliant elongate tie and spaced blocks fixed on the tie, the cladding elements being arranged in adjacent relation so as to achieve the interlocking of the blocks of one cladding element in the gaps between the blocks of adjacent cladding elements.

7. Constructional work consisting of a mass of first elements, second elements embedded in said mass, the elements being maintained relative to each other by the effect of friction between elements which are in contact with no binder therebetween, the first elements being particles, and the second elements being flexible elongate reinforcements capable of sustaining tension without permanently elongating and without fracture, portions of said mass defining layers comprising a multiplicity of said particles respectively in direct frictional engagement with said reinforcements, intermediate portions of said mass comprising a multiplicity of still other particles being interposed in a continuous and uninterrupted mass between and contiguous with said particle layers, and cladding disposed on an outer surface of said mass for containing the particles, the cladding comprising cladding elements consisting of a flexible tie and spaced blocks mounted on the tie, the cladding elements being arranged in adjacent relation so as to achieve the interlocking of the blocks of one cladding element in the gaps between the blocks of adjacent cladding elements, said reinforcements also consisting of a flexible tie and spaced blocks mounted on the tie.

8. constructional work as claimed in claim 7, wherein 6 the flexible ties of the reinforcements are extensions of flexible ties of the cladding.

9. The constructional work according to claim 7 wherein said blocks are substantially spherical.

10. The constructional work according to claim 9 wherein said blocks have substantially the same diameter and are equally spaced along said flexible ties.

11. Constructional work comprising a mass of discrete particles, said particles being normally capable of lateral slippage relative to one another, and means for rendering said mass of particles more coherent consisting of a plurality of elongated pliant ties embedded in said mass and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of blocks fixed on each tie at intervals spaced longitudinally of said tie, said ties being thin relative to said blocks and said particles being interposed between said ties and said blocks and in frictional contact with said ties and said blocks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,104 6/1931 Levering 61-30 776,799 12/1904 Reed 61-30 832,371 10/ 1906 Friestedt 61-2 1,762,343 6/1930 Munster 61-39 1,951,292 3/ 1934 Cahill 61-34X 1,968,993 8/1934 Cox 6 1-35 2,056,349 10/1936 Evers 61-39 2,138,037 11/1938 Lane 61-35 2,145,396 l/l939 Kato 61-30 2,184,462 12/1939 Milliken 61-39X 2,193,425 3/1940 Lake 61-35X 2,261,715 11/1941 Clark 61-35 2,405,289 8/ 1946 Carowe 61-39 3,226,289 1/1966 White 61-39 3,355,894 12/1967 Vidal 61-4 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,165,317 10/1958 France 61-39 334,177 1/1936 Italy 61-39 PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

